mà₃ is used when the speaker points out an unexpected or surprising result. The result happens despite what would normally be expected from the situation.
With mà₃, the speaker reacts to the outcome and highlights that it is not what logic or experience would predict.
[1] – Uống thuốc rồi mà₃ vẫn không đỡ. I’ve taken the medicine, but it still didn’t get better.
→ Normally, taking medicine leads to improvement. mà₃ highlights the unexpected result.
[2] – Trời mưa to mà₃ anh vẫn đi làm. It’s raining heavily, yet you still went to work.
→ The result (going to work) is unexpected given the situation.
[3] – Mệt thế mà₃ nó vẫn chạy chơi cả ngày. He’s that tired, but he still runs around all day.
→ mà₃ draws attention to the surprising persistence.
[4] – Học nhiều lắm mà₃ thi rớt. I studied a lot, but I still failed the exam.
→ The failure is unexpected given the effort.
mà₃ vs mà₁
– mà₁: general contrast – mà₃: focus on an unexpected result
[5a] – Tôi mệt mà₁ vẫn đi. I’m tired, but I still go.
[5b] – Tôi mệt thế mà₃ vẫn đi. I’m this tired, yet I still go.
→ mà₃ adds stronger surprise.
mà₃ vs nhưng
– mà₃: spoken, emotional, highlights surprise – nhưng: neutral contrast
[6a] – Trời lạnh mà₃ nó không mặc áo. It’s cold, yet he’s not wearing a jacket.
[6b] – Trời lạnh, nhưng nó không mặc áo. It’s cold, but he’s not wearing a jacket.
mà₃ vs vẫn
– vẫn: persistence – mà₃: surprise about that persistence
[7a] – Nó vẫn đi làm. He still goes to work.
[7b] – Trời mưa to mà₃ nó vẫn đi làm. It’s raining heavily, yet he still goes to work.
• mà₃ usually appears between two clauses.
• It is very common in spoken Vietnamese.
• The first clause often sets up a strong condition (rất, lắm, thế, to, nhiều…).
• mà₃ expresses the speaker’s attitude of surprise or disbelief.
• In formal writing, tuy… nhưng… may be preferred.
• Strong condition + mà₃ + unexpected result
– Nóng thế mà₃ vẫn mặc áo khoác. It’s this hot, yet he’s still wearing a jacket.
• Often used with emphasis words:
– thế – lắm – to – nhiều
• Frequently followed by vẫn:
– … mà₃ vẫn…
mà₃ lets Vietnamese speakers say: “This outcome really goes against what I expected.”